Sunday, July 12, 2015

Negosyo Center in Pangasinan cities seen to spur grassroots development

By April Montes

Pangasinan Information Agency

ALAMINOS CITY – Negosyo Centers will be rolled out in Pangasinan this year as part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) major support programs for micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs).

Establishing business centers in all provinces, cities and municipalities in the country is provided for under Republic Act 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act authored by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino.

Last week, the first Negosyo Center in the Ilocos Region and the country’s 26th business hub located at the City Hall of Alaminos was launched and now open to serve MSMEs and would-be entrepreneurs in the western part of the province.

According to DTI-Pangasinan, similar facilities will soon be established in the cities of Dagupan and Urdaneta.

Provincial Director Peter Mangabat of DTI-Pangasinan said the business center will provide services to intensify the promotion of entrepreneurship as well as to increase the assistance to MSMEs.

Negosyo Center can also boost the development of MSMEs by providing information for training, financing, and marketing; creating mentoring programs with the help of private institutions and local chambers; and opening access to grants and other forms of financial assistance.

“By facilitating ease of doing business, potential investors and would-be entrepreneurs will be encouraged to put up their own businesses and boost hiring in Alaminos City,” Mangabat said.

Aside from ease of doing business, he said that the Negosyo Center will provide courses and development programs, training, advice on business conceptualization and feasibility, management, capability building, human resources, marketing and other support services.

Alaminos Mayor Arthur Celeste thanked the DTI for choosing the city as one of the site for the business centers in Pangasinan.

“With the Negosyo Center here, services for MSMEs are brought closer to the people of Alaminos and in western Pangasinan,” he said.

As mandated by RA 10644, around 100 Negosyo Centers will be established in different parts of the country this year. (AMM/PIA-1, Pangasinan)